New York, October 01 (Darfur24)
The United States, European Union, African Union, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have called on Sudan’s warring parties to resume negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire, while rejecting the establishment of parallel governing structures.
In a joint statement issued after a ministerial meeting in New York, the participants backed efforts by the Quintet and the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, to relaunch a Sudanese-led political dialogue.
They urged the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to resume negotiations, particularly based on the Quartet’s proposal for a permanent ceasefire, and said they were prepared to take further measures to support its implementation.
The participants said Sudan’s future governance must be determined through a comprehensive, credible and transparent Sudanese political process representing voices inside and outside the country. They said the process should not be obstructed by armed groups or external actors.
They stressed that a ceasefire alone would not resolve the conflict and said a political settlement must address longstanding grievances, including relations between the center and regions, the distribution of power, governance, constitutional arrangements and financial arrangements under a federal system.
The countries and organizations also condemned foreign military and financial support to the warring parties and called for an end to the transfer of weapons and military equipment into Sudan. They backed stronger UN measures to prevent arms flows and called for greater capacity for the UN Panel of Experts to monitor violations.
The statement condemned violations by both sides, including attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, aerial and drone attacks, ethnically motivated killings, sexual violence, violations against children and the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
It expressed particular concern over reported atrocities, including alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity attributed to the Rapid Support Forces, as well as serious violations by the Sudanese Armed Forces, and backed strengthening and expanding the sanctions regime across Sudan.
The participants also called on the parties to uphold their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, protect civilians and humanitarian workers, and ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access across front lines and borders.
They reaffirmed support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and rejected any move toward parallel governance structures that could undermine the country’s democratic aspirations.
The statement also urged the international community to increase humanitarian funding and honor pledges made at the Berlin Sudan conference to support civilians inside Sudan and refugees in neighboring countries.